Prototype Case Makes iPhones Touch-Capacitive on all Sides

Could transferring touch controls to the back of the device (à la Sony's PS Vita) be the perfect solution for iPhone gaming?

Our hands wouldn't need to be right in the line of sight just to control a game. Certain controls could be mapped to simpler gestures. And it would sure help diminish smudges if we weren't touching the screen as much.

That's the goal of the Sensus capacitive case by Canopy. At $59 it's not exactly cheap, but then it's not uncommon for rubber cases with no added function to sell for $30 or more.

Canopy hasn't unveiled exactly how gesture-mapping will work, but as its a safe bet Apple won't alter its iPhone firmware to support the Sensus out of the box, you'll probably just have to leave a companion app running in the background.

The case's utility won't be limited to just games either: you can use it for scrolling, zooming and even executing the Navigate function in Maps. And it should help protect your iPhone if you drop it.

Sensus is made for Apple's old 30-pin proprietary connector, so it's only compatible with the iPhone 4 and 4S (for now).

Are you serious enough about iPhone games to invest in something like this? Let us know in the comments.

Jon Fox is a Seattle hipster who loves polar bears and climbing trees. You can follow him on Twitter and IGN.